International NGOs working in Yemen welcome the upcoming political consultations in Sweden. After almost four years of conflict in Yemen, up to 14 million people – 50 per cent of Yemen’s population - do not know where their next meal will come from. An estimated 85,000 children under five are presumed to have died from extreme hunger or disease since 2015.
The magnitude of the ongoing conflict in Yemen and its humanitarian toll has led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock warned of the urgent risk of a massive famine in a recent UN Security Council briefing and suggested five urgent steps to offset this catastrophe. Chief among these steps is ending the ongoing violence throughout the country, and removing obstacles to imports and domestic distribution of essential goods to avoid a full-fledged famine.
We strongly hope that these consultations are the first step towards a peace process that will help put an end to the violence and dramatic food and health crises in Yemen and will lead to positive developments for the people of Yemen.
ENDS